"Three Russian long-range strategic bombers" Tupolev-142 "circled for hours over the international waters of the Norwegian sea and Barents," the Russian Defense Ministry said.
It added that four other Russian strategic "Tu-142" bombers flew in the northern Pacific, accompanied by Russian MiG-31 fighters.
The ministry statement indicated that Norwegian "F-16" and American "F-22" fighters escorted the Russian bombers in several stages during their flight.
The North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) - which brings together the United States and Canada - announced the interception of four Russian "Tupolev-142" reconnaissance aircraft as they entered the Alaskan air defense identification zone on Saturday.
"Norad" added - in a tweet via her Twitter account - that Russian reconnaissance planes flew 65 nautical miles south of the Alotian Islands, Alaska, and remained flying for about 8 hours in the area of air defense identification without violating the sovereign airspace of the United States or Canada.
NORAD F-22s, supported by KC-135 air refuelers and E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System, intercepted four Russian Tu-142 reconnaissance aircraft entering the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone on June 27, 2020.
video: https://t.co/jPJB21pen3
- North American Aerospace Defense Command (@NORADCommand) June 27, 2020
According to the organization, this is the 10th time that Russian military aircraft have been intercepted off Alaska.
"The US combat aircraft are based at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska," said WHO spokesman Cameron Hillier.
These incidents have been repeated between Russia and the United States this year. Russian Interfax news agency reported that Moscow had pushed fighter planes to intercept two B-52s, on June 19, that were flying over the Sea of Okhotsk off the Russian eastern coast.